Convertible billiard and dining table.



A. J. FOX.

Patented Oct, l7, I899.

CONVERTIBLE BILLIARD AND DINING TABLE.

(No Model.)

S 1/ FIIJE. j 1

(Application filed Apr. 29, 1899.)

FIGv 3.

' WITNESSES [NVENTOR Altorngl lhvi rn STATES PATENT ARTHUR JOHN FOX, OF BRISTOL, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE OONVERTL BLE BILLIARD TABLE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CONVERTIBLE BILLIARD AND DINING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,014, dated October 17, 1899.. Application filed April 29, 1899. serial N0. 715,005 (NO model.)

bles, (for which I have made application for a patent in Great Britain, such application being dated November 16, 1898, No. 24336;) and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a new or improved method of constructing. and arranging convertible billiard and dining tables, and has for its object to provide means whereby a tea ble, apparently an ordinary dining-table, may be immediately transposed into a billiard-table, and vice versa.

This invention consists in hinging the ordinary sides and ends which form the surrounding walls of billiard-tables to the tops or beds of dining-tables and so constructing themthat they will fall within or lie flush with vertical lines from the edges when used as diningtables or may be removed altogether and providing holders or carriers for the pockets, which are attached to the corners and sides of the walls, these carriers serving as clips to hold the walls or sides firmly in position when the table is used for billiards.

The means adopted for putting this inveution into operation will be fully described in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a section of one of the side or end walls ready for attachment by hinges to the under part of a dining-table top. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal elevation of the same with a 7 carrier attached thereto supporting a pocket.

Fig. 3 is an elevation showing. part of the table with a billiard-wall hinged thereon and falling underneath the table within a vertical line from its edge. Fig. 4 is an elevation of part of the table with a side and end of the billiard-walls in position and secured by a pocket-carrier. Figs. 5 and 6 are plans of Figs. 3 and 4, respectively.

The same letters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

A represents the side or end walls of the billiard attaohm ent,with a right-angled recess B to fit on the edge of the dining-table and to grip the cloth and hold it firmly in position. The inner faces of the walls are fitted with the usual rubber cushions O and covered with cloth to match that to be used on the table. The walls have hinges D, one half being screwed on the walls and the other half on the lower surface of the table-top. The hinges are conveniently made with the pins cl on one leaf to slide in and out of the sock ets on the other leaf, so that, if preferred, the billiard appliances may be entirely removed from the table by simply sliding one leaf of each hinge away from its other-leaf. Carriers E are attached on the adjacent corners of the walls, and on the adjacent ends in the center of the table the usual pockets F are suspended from the carriers.

G shows the top of an ordinary dining-table, with corners chamfered at g to allow the pockets to lie in position. Screw-threaded pins H are fixed in plates on the tops of the walls in position to receive the carriers E, and thumb-nuts I are provided to secure the carriers to the pins and walls. The nuts are shouldered, so that the lower parts may fit tightly in the circular hole a or slot 2 of the carrier. This will supply both a vertical and horizontal tension on the carrier. The carrier is first fastened by fixing the nut to the pin in the circular hole 6, and then the slot 6 is put around the other pin, and by a slight pressure against the wall the end of the slot is brought up to the pin, and the nut being screwed down the adjacent corners or sides are firmly secured in position. A piece of cloth with the usual markings is provided and laid on the table and slightly strained before the walls are turned up, suitable apertures having been made in the cloth to allow it to pass around the hinges and be unobstructed by them. When the walls and carriers are put in position, the cloth is again strained, and by means ofthe slot e and nut I the walls are tightened, which brings the angled recess B tightly on the cloth at the edge of the table, and thus it is held firmly in the required position.

The various parts and billiard-fittings being provided, as described, the whole of them,

including the cloth, may be removed from the table except one leaf of each of the hinges D.

This method will probably be adopted when the table is only occasionally used for billiards; but when more frequently so used the walls will be kept hinged to the table,as shown a in Fig. 3, and stud-pins attached below the cushions at the nearest adjacent corners will permit the walls to be further drawn.

I claim- The combination, with a table-top, of side portions provided with billiard-cushions and hinged to the table-top, certain of the said side portions being provided with vertical screw-threaded studs H near their ends,

ARTHUR JOHN FOX.

Witnesses:

' WILL. GEO. HALL,

J QI-IN G. WESTLAKE. 

